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Identifying and Assessing the Significance of Digital Twin Enablers in the Construction Industry
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Construction Management by Sara Samir Isbaih entitled, “Identifying and Assessing the Significance of Digital Twin Enablers in the Construction Industry”, submitted in June 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Sameh M. El-Sayegh. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).With the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era, Digital Twins are becoming important in several domains. Utilizing the recent developments in the Internet of Things, Machine Learning, and Big Data, Digital Twins are quickly growing in popularity as a tool across several industries and fields. A digital twin replicates a process, person, location, system, or equipment in the real world. The original purpose of Digital Twins was to enhance manufacturing processes through simulations that used very accurate component models, a fascinating application of this technology. Over time, with bigger and more precise building information models (BIM) and massive data produced by the Internet of Things sensors, Digital Twins are promising to solve the challenges of the construction field, implement advanced socio-technological changes, and transform the construction field digitally. However, there is a lack of applications, knowledge, and awareness of the Digital Twins concept in the AEC industry. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to determine and evaluate the importance of the key enablers for implementing digital twins in the construction sector by concentrating on understanding industry needs and assessing preparedness. The thesis studied and identified the Digital Twins enablers in the KSA and UAE construction industry. This thesis followed a systematic review to evaluate the significance level by collecting relevant data through an online survey and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). The online survey had two scaling methods including the Likert scale and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The online survey was conducted by 82 respondents from industry professionals and experts. The pair-wise comparison data for the AHP was used to derive relative weights and validate the consistency of judgment. The results reveal that the organizational category ranks highest among the six enabler categories in the UAE, while the technological category is top ranked in KSA. Data governance and management are the top enablers in the UAE, reflecting its focus on data-driven practices. In KSA, committed leadership and strategic vision emphasize the role of executive direction. These findings show that both countries focus on organizational strength. However, they prioritize different drivers for integrating digital twinning into the construction industry.College of EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringMaster of Science in Construction Management (MSCM
The Interplay of Gender and Turn-Taking Dynamics in English as a Lingua Franca Group Discussions
No full textA Master of Arts thesis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) by Habiba Atta entitled, “The Interplay of Gender and Turn-Taking Dynamics in English as a Lingua Franca Group Discussions”, submitted in December 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Adnan Ajsic and thess co-advisor is Dr. Ozgur Parlak. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of EnglishMaster of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL
Hidden Curriculum in the Uae. A Historical Analysis Higher Education GERs
No full textA Master of Arts thesis in International Studies by Fatima AlMugarrab AlMheiri entitled, “Hidden Curriculum in the Uae. A Historical Analysis Higher Education GERs”, submitted in May 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Vernon Pedersen. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).This thesis interrogates the evolution of general education requirements (GERs) in higher education institutions (HEIs) across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as vehicles for value transmission. If general education requirements (GERs) are approached as state-authored texts; deliberate, political, and ideological, what hidden curriculum emerges? What values are being subtly, but systematically, inscribed? GERs operate as quiet instruments of statecraft. Through them, the UAE embeds national values; discipline, loyalty, innovation, tolerance, productivity, and reverence, into the architecture of undergraduate education. Using a longitudinal, qualitative content analysis grounded in Phuong and Vanderstraeten’s (2024) analytical framework on the ideological function of educational content, this study analyses course catalogs, syllabi, and institutional policy documents from 1976 to 2025 across six key institutions: UAE University, Khalifa University, Zayed University, University of Sharjah, American University of Sharjah, and the Higher Colleges of Technology. Findings reveal recurrent curricular patterns. GERs have evolved in direct response to national developmental priorities, from early emphasis on religious and linguistic unity to the contemporary insertion of courses on innovation, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and global citizenship. Even courses in IT literacy or communication are never ideologically neutral; they carry implicit messages about modernity, order, and economic utility. In making visible the political architecture behind what is taught and why, this study contributes a critical lens to higher education policy in the Gulf and a deeper understanding of how states use curricula to script the future.College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of International StudiesMaster of Arts in International Studies (MAIS
The Pullout Capacity of Polymeric Geogrids Embedded in Dune Sand-Tire Shred Mixture
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Civil Engineering by Youcef El Berizi entitled, “The Pullout Capacity of Polymeric Geogrids Embedded in Dune Sand-Tire Shred Mixture”, submitted in July 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Magdi El-Emam. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).College of EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringMaster of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE
Understanding Potential Brine Disposal Impacts of a Desalination Plant on Sharjah’s Coastal Waters
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Civil Engineering by Laila Alomar entitled, “Understanding Potential Brine Disposal Impacts of a Desalination Plant on Sharjah’s Coastal Waters”, submitted in November 2025. Thesis advisor is Dr. Serter Atabay and thesis co-advisor is Dr. Georgenes Cavalcante. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).College of EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringMaster of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE
Durability of externally strengthened concrete prisms with CFRP laminates and galvanized steel mesh attached with epoxy adhesives and mortar
No full textThe long-term bond degradation and strength retention of flexural bond prisms strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite and galvanized steel mesh (GSM) systems, bonded to concrete using epoxy adhesives and cement-based mortar under aggressive conditioning regimes are compared in this paper. Notched prisms strengthened using low-cord density steel mesh (LSM) with epoxy (SME-strengthened) and cement mortar (SMM strengthened), and CFRP-epoxy systems were weathered under saline water and direct sunlight for a period of 28 and 540 days. The results of the study were analyzed based on experimentally obtained ultimate load (Pu) values and empirically calculated average bond shear stress (τavg) and prism strength retention (Rp) values. The bond strength degraded by 39 and 34 % in CFRP strengthened, 2.9 and 33 % in SME strengthened, and 2.8 and 10.8 % in SMM strengthened specimens following the 540-day exposure to saline water and direct sunlight, respectively. The average prism retention ratio was calculated to be 0.61 and 0.66 for CFRP- strengthened, 0.97 and 0.67 for SME-strengthened, and 0.97 and 0.89 for SMM-strengthened specimens after 540 days of saline water and direct sunlight exposure. Flexural prism environment strength reduction factors (CE) were proposed as 0.60, 0.95, and 0.95 for CFRP, SME, and SMM-strengthened specimens under saline water exposures and 0.65, 0.65, and 0.85 for CFRP, SME, and SMM strengthened specimens under direct sunlight exposures. Saline water exposure was observed to be most critical to all strengthening systems. Although CFRP- strengthened specimens showed minimum degradation in load-carrying capacity under both conditioning regimes, they showed maximum bond strength reduction in contrast to SMM strengthened specimens. It was observed that the choice of bonding agent significantly influenced the extent of bond strength degradation under extreme exposure regimes, like those that prevail in the UAE and the Persian Gulf.American University of SharjahRiadh Al-Sadek Endowed Chair in Civil EngineeringNational Priorities Research Program of the Qatar National Research Fun
Drug Release via Ultrasound-Activated Nanocarriers for Cancer Treatment: A Review
No full textConventional cancer chemotherapy often struggles with safely and effectively delivering anticancer therapeutics to target tissues, frequently leading to dose-limiting toxicity and suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. This has created a need for novel therapies that offer greater efficacy, enhanced safety, and improved toxicological profiles. Nanocarriers are nanosized particles specifically designed to enhance the selectivity and effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs while reducing their toxicity. A subset of drug delivery systems utilizes stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, which enable on-demand drug release, prevent premature release, and offer spatial and temporal control over drug delivery. These stimuli can be internal (such as pH and enzymes) or external (such as ultrasound, magnetic fields, and light). This review focuses on the mechanics of ultrasound-induced drug delivery and the various nanocarriers used in conjunction with ultrasound. It will also provide a comprehensive overview of key aspects related to ultrasound-induced drug delivery, including ultrasound parameters and the biological effects of ultrasound waves.Dana Gas Endowed Chair for Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah Faculty Research Grants (FRG20-L-E48, FRG22-C-E08)Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences MRG/18/2020Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP
Generation and Detection of Sign Language Deepfakes
No full textA Master of Science thesis in Electrical Engineering by Shahzeb Naeem entitled, “Generation and Detection of Sign Language Deepfakes”, submitted in December 2024. Thesis advisor is Dr. Usman Tariq and thesis co-advisors are Dr. Hasan Al-Nashash and Dr. Abhinav Dhall. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).The emergence of synthetic data, or "Deepfakes," in the age of sophisticated visual effects and artificial intelligence has raised questions about potential harm and deception. In contrast, this study investigates the benefits of deepfake technology with a particular emphasis on helping the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHoH) community. The reasons behind the lack of such work not having been done before are the complexities of sign language and the scarcity of sign language experts. The objectives of this thesis are to develop a generative model for generating deepfakes in sign language while producing a sign language deepfake dataset that is technically credible and visually convincing using expert analysis. The inputs to the generative model are a source image, and a driving video. The deepfake output is essentially an identity transfer of the source image onto the driving video. The thesis also explores sign language deepfake detection using traditional Machine Learning and Deep Learning models from an unconventional angle using a series of extensive experiments and human interaction after studying real, fake and synthetic images in depth. The analysis of 1200 videos, including unseen persons, reveals a deepfake dataset for assessing model performance. Linguistic analysis, which uses textual similarity scores and an interpreter's evaluation, shows promise in distinguishing between authentic and fraudulent sign language recordings. Even with totally unseen participants, it is possible to produce visually convincing deepfake videos using our approach. It is also possible to detect such deepfakes using much simpler models than we have come to know and expect. The thesis is structured with a literature review, methodology, thorough analysis, findings/results, and discussions. The accuracy of 83.3% by the expert and metric scores close to 1 point to the possibility of using deepfake technology to produce convincing and accurate sign language videos, which would help the DHoH community's inclusivity and education. They also showcase the potential of moving towards more efficient models for deepfake detection and the level of plausibility we have reached in producing images from a computer only or using deepfakes.College of EngineeringDepartment of Electrical EngineeringMaster of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE
English Language Teaching in a Humanitarian Context: A Study of Features and Parameters Affecting Vulnerable Learners in Iraq
No full textA Master of Arts thesis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) by Farah Mohammad Al-Shamali entitled, “English Language Teaching in a Humanitarian Context: A Study of Features and Parameters Affecting Vulnerable Learners in Iraq”, submitted in November 2024. Thesis advisor is Dr. Ozgur Parlak. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of EnglishMaster of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL
Circular Economy in the Maritime Industry in UAE Implementation Challenges and Management Perception
No full textA Master of Business Administration (MBA) thesis by Muna Mohamed Alsuwaidi entitled, “Circular Economy in the Maritime Industry in UAE Implementation Challenges and Management Perception”, submitted in November 2024. Thesis advisor is Dr. Hasnan Baber. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Approval Signatures, Completion Certificate, and AUS Archives Consent Form).The marine industry is vital for global trade and economic development, but it significantly contributes to environmental degradation. The concept of a circular economy offers a sustainable solution by minimizing waste and promoting resource efficiency. This study focuses on the marine sector in the United Arab Emirates. The first section examines the concept of a circular economy within the maritime industry, highlighting initiatives in the United Arab Emirates' maritime sector. It analyzes primary challenges and barriers, considering stakeholders' perspectives. Furthermore, the role of Environmental, Social, and Governance frameworks, the concept of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, and remanufacturing practices in promoting sustainability within the maritime sector is investigated. The study also addresses the increasing adoption of remanufacturing as a sustainable alternative for managing products at the end of their life cycle, which is more efficient than traditional recycling and essential for environmental resilience. Interviews with maritime industry professionals provided insights into the challenges faced during the transition to a circular economy. The results affirm the transformation of the United Arab Emirates’ maritime sector toward sustainability, emphasizing its leadership in aligning global and national practices. Key barriers to adopting circular economy principles include regulatory gaps, operational inefficiencies, and resistance to change. Insights from management perspectives underscore the importance of leadership commitment, while cultural obstacles highlight the need for societal shifts. The study proposes overcoming these barriers through global regulatory alignment, financial incentives, and collaborations with research institutions. This research aims to promote sustainable practices in the maritime sector, contributing to the United Arab Emirates’ net-zero emissions goal by 2050. It concludes with recommendations for addressing these challenges and facilitating the adoption of circular economy strategies, aiming to assist policymakers, corporate leaders, and researchers in advancing environmental sustainability in the maritime field.School of Business AdministrationDepartment of Management, Strategy and EntrepreneurshipMaster of Business Administration (MBA